“Dear Dad” by Stella Asia Consonni
Three young children in downtown New York City embark on a series of mischievous adventures, leading to a painful realization that only their friendship will be able to soothe.
Dear Dad is a comedy-drama short celebrating fatherhood through the eyes of three young children. Set in downtown New York City, we follow our young protagonists throughout their concrete stomping grounds as they embark on a series of mischievous adventures. Narrowly avoiding capture, the kids end up in their “secret spot” overlooking the city.
Here they discuss love and loss, friends and family with warmth and humour, leading to a painful realisation that only their friendship will be able to soothe.
FROM THE DIRECTOR
“‘Dear Dad’ is a letter to my own father. Contrary to the dads in my film, he didn’t seem to have much interest in being present in our lives, always too angry to show any love. I grew up thinking that this was normal—I didn’t know any better.
Shortly before writing the film, I witnessed a dad cuddling his son and I suddenly burst out in tears. That’s when I decided to channel my pain into a celebration of those men that, despite the difficulties that life throws their way, strive to be an emotionally present father figure in the lives of their children.
In the film, fatherhood is explored through the eyes of young characters because that’s when I experienced the fleeting relationship with my own father. I wanted to go back to that time, but change the ending by showing caring fathers and the love they bring to a child's life.
With this film, I want to remind the audience of what it’s like to be a kid, and the experience of the world as being new and magical. I want them to feel the warmth shared between fathers and children even though, like myself, they might have never experienced it in their own life.
Working with kids and shooting film on a self-funded budget was daunting at first, but after meticulous pre-production planning, my team and I collectively felt confident and decided to move forward shooting on 16mm. I was also fortunate to have a great camera team on my side, such as cinematographer Anthony Carrella, and to work with outstanding young actors, Nathaniel Dickson, Hunter Nielsen, and Sydney Horton McCraw.
We found our three lead actors after a long casting process that had to be done remotely to follow COVID regulations. I was looking for kids who were in touch with their feelings and had an authentic sense of wonder. I was amazed by how talented our chosen actors were—so young and yet so able to convey the right tone and emotions. We shot the script word by word and then allowed our young actors to improvise. Sometimes, we secretly turned the camera on to capture their surprisingly profound conversations.
The fathers featured in our film were equally outstanding. With minimal direction, we let them just be with their kids. As a fly on the wall, I wanted each dad to forget about the camera and to authentically capture tender and intimate moments between parent and child.
I had tears in my eyes multiple times as it was all I wish I had with my own father. At the same time, this film made me realise that good fathers do exist and I felt grateful to have had the opportunity to celebrate them.”
-Stella Asia Consonni
CREDITS
Written and Directed by Stella Asia Consonni
Executive Producers // Maximilian Kurzweil, Andre Bato, Stella Asia Consonni
Associate Producer // Sara Greco at Serial Pictures
Director of Photography // Anthony Carella
Editor // Esteban Pedraza
Casting // Memoria Di
Cast
Nathaniel // Nathaniel Dickson
Hunter // Hunter Nielsen
Sydney // Sydney Horton McCraw
Nathaniel's dad // Joseph M. Dickson
Hunter's dad // Michael Nielsen
Sydney's dad // Elisha Glass
Nathaniel's brothers // Cameron Dickson, Tristan Dickson
Family on train // Namaste Humble and Royal Irie
Family by windows // William, Violet Luna and Dylan Sol Gomez
Family on bike // Gabriel and Cody Snow Rallis
Family under arch // Jordan, Ronnal and Eleven Coleman
Producer // Kelly Laguaite
Production Coordinator // Amandine Thomas
Crew
1st Assistant Director // Lionel Cineas
Production Designer // Luiza Rosa
1st AC // Rob Agulo
2nd AC/loader // Mars Alba
Costume Design // Rachael Wang
Sound Engineer // Nolan Jenkins
Gaffer // Omar Nasr
Production Designer Assistant // Sara Fernandez
Set PA // Jordan Auerbach
PA/Driver // Blake Scott
PA/Driver // Todd Jones
Second Unit
Second Unit Producer // Sean Gordon-Loebl
Second Unit Director of Photography // Jordan Hall
Second Unit 1st AC // Sachi Bahra
Second Unit 2nd AC/loader // Will Cherry
Second Unit Costume Design // Julie Ragolia
Second Unit Gaffer // Sam Dahman
Post Production
Head of Post // Nicky Keros at AB FILMS
Color Grading // Daniel DeVue at The Mill
VFX // Milan Nikolić
Title Design // Jordan Marks
Sound
Original Score and Sound Design // Jean
Sound Mix // Lorenzo Dal Ri
Side by Side Song Credits //
'Recharge & Revolt' // Performed by: Raveonettes
'Superstar' // Performed by: Pretty Sick
Thank You
Dominique Dickson
Soleil Laboy
April Horton
Sage Ryan
Anna Lokken
New York City Housing Authority
Olivia Fialkow
Drew Korn
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